Ice-scoring machine



May 18 1926.

H. L. GEE ET AL ICE SCORING MACHINE Filed June 4. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l37mm/tow jecibr L. de@

May 18 1926. 1,584,921

H. l.. GEE ET AL n ICE SCORING MACHINE Filed June 4, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Patented ay ll, 1926.

N, sa

HECTOR GEE AND ROSS H. DARBY, 0F LYONS, MICHIGAN'.

ICE-SCORM@ MACHINE.

Application' led .Tune

The invention relates generally to a machine for scoring blocks of ice,so that the scored blocks may be quickly and easily broken into smallerblocks of uniform size;-

and more particularlythe invention relates to a simple machine by whichthe blocks may be scored by heat instead ofby cutting or sawing. Y

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of thischaracterwhich will simultaneously score both sides of the block.

-Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of thischaracter by the use of which the scoring lines, both vertical andhorizontal, will always be accurately positioned.

Still a further object of the invention resides in the provision ofmeans whereby the heated members are forced to Arapidly enter the ice,thereby making a sharp score in contrast to the wide ll-shaped scorewhich results from scoring by heat when the heated element is not forcedto rapidly enter the ice.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby there is afixed limit to I the extent to which the scoring means may entertheblock; and also means by which the depth of scoring may be varied asde-v sired.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art, from the following detailed description, when takenin connection with the accompanying drawings; in which* ,Figure 1 is aside elevation of the complete apparatus. f y

Figure 2 is an end of the apparatus, taken from the right of Figure 1,and parts being broken away to more clearly show the construction.

Figure 3 is a detail erspective view of one of the scoring mem ers withthe heat-l ing means mounted thereon.

Figure 4 is a detailplan view showing `the construction by which theextent of inward movement of the scoring members is limited.

Fi ure 5 is a detail elevational view showing t e construction by whichthe extent of inward movement of the scoring members is limited; and,

Figure 6 is a detail view illustrating any conventional form of stopmechanism. 7

Referring to the drawings more in detail, numerals 1, V1, indicatevertical spaced side 1924. Serial No. 717,697.

frames of any desired construction; and ex-` tending up from these sideframe members are other frame members 2, 2, which are connected at thetop by cross frames; and the rentire structure being reinforced by crossarms 3 wherever necessary to give sufficient strength. The wholestructure is preferably made of steel angles.

Attached to the lower portion of the side frame members are two angles4, 4, extending the entire length of the apparatus from the front torear thereof. These angles are suiiciently spaced and are of sufficientwidth to support the large blocks of ice that are to be scored.

The blocks of ice will'be pushed onto the angle members one at a time,and in order that each block may be .properly positioned for scoringthere is provided ,any conventional stop mechanism. Merely for purposesof illustration we have shown a vertically movablec bloclr 5 connectedby a link 6 with a lever T carried by a shaft 8 having a foot treadle 9at the front end thereof. Obviof the apparatus, and are pivotallyattached to the top of the frame and extend downwardly to a point nearthe base of the apparatus. Attached to each pair of these Vpivotallymounted arms is a scoring member, indicated generally by the numeral 11.Each of these scoring members consists of horizontally and verticallyarranged'plates severalinches in width. These lates are arranged in themanner clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. 0f course these platesmay be spaced as desired to score blocks of the required size.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 3, numeral 12 indicates a mainsteam line which is divided into two branches 13, 13, controlled by avalve 14.' Each of these branches leads down to the top of one of the ofthe vertical plates of the scoring frames. .And a similar scoring ipe 18leads downward from the top of pipe 13 and runs from the front to therear of the inner edge of the central horizontal plate of the scoringframe. All of these scoring pipes preferably lead into some commonexhaust pipe (not shown).

By taking the scoring pipes 17 and 18 from the top of pipe 13 only drysteam will be admitted to the scoring pipes, and any water ofcondensation in the pipe 13 will be carried to the trap at the rear endthereof and will be gradually discharged through the small aperture 16.

It is to be noted that the central horizontal plate of the scoring frameis of greater length than the frame itself, and the ends of this plateare adapted to abut against frame members 19, as clearly illustrated inFigure 1. By this construction all longitudinal movementV of the scoringframes is revented and hence the frame will always e accuratelypositioned.

The scoring frames together with the scoring pipes carried thereby maybe simultaneously moved toward and from each other in any desiredmanner, and the invention is not, of course, limited to the particularmechanism illustrated herein. The simple mechanism herein illustratedconsistsl merely of a longitudinal shaft 2O having an operating lever21, and having fixed thereto two upwardly and downwardly extendingcranks 22; one of said cranks being provided for each pair of oppositelydisposed swinging arms 10. Leading from the top and bottom of each ofsaid cranks is a link 23, which is attached at its opposite end to oneof the swinging arms 10. Obviously by moving the operating lever 21 thearms 10 and the scoring frames and scoring pipes carried thereby, willbe caused to simultaneously move toward or from each other, as may bedesired. Any means (not shown) may be provided for holding the frames intheir outward or inoperative position. It may be noted here that theinvention is by no means limited to swinging scoring frames, forobviously the frames could just as well be mounted for reciprocatingmovement toward and from each other; and obviously also, it is notessential that both scoring frames be movable, for one of the framescould be fixed and the other frame could be moved toward and from it byeither is therefore highly desirable to provide of scorin some means byw ich the extent of the depth is limited Vor fixed. Referring nowparticularly to Figures 4 and 5 it will be seen that the longitudinalangles 4, 4, on which the large block of ice rests, are provided with aseries of vertical and horizontal slots 24, there being one of saidslots for each of the vertical plates of the scoring frame 11; and thedepth of the horizontal portion of each slot being equal to the depth ofscoring desired. So that'when the scoring frames are moved inward thepipes 17 will abut against the end walls of the 'slots and prevent anyfurther inward movement of the scoring frames. It will also be notedthat the inclined members 25 of the scoring frames are of less widththan the horizontal and vertical plates forming the frame, as clearlyillustrated in Figure 3; and this difference in width is exactly equalto the depth of scoring desired. So that when the scoring frames havebeen moved inwardly to their full extent, not only will the scoringpipes engage the inner end walls of the slots 24, but also the inclinedframe members 25 will engage the angle member 4, as clearly illustratedin Figure 1.

The operation of the apparatus may be briefly described as follows:

A large block of ice to be scored is pushed into the front of theapparatus, resting on the angles 4, 4; and it is moved inwardly until itis properly positioned by abutting against the stop block 5. Steam hasbeen admitted, of course, to the scoring pipes and those pipes beingthoroughly heated, the lever 21 is moved to cause the scoring frames andscoring pipes to move inwardly. The heat of the pipes melts the ice, andthese pipes are forced to rapidily enter the ice because of the pressureapplied to the lever 21. This is important for if the pipes rapidlyenter the ice there will be a sharp score, in contrast to a V-shapedscore which results when heating members enter the ice slowly because oflack of pressure.

As previously stated, the depth of scoring may be varied as desired byvaryingv the extent of movement of the lever 21, but in ordinarypractice all blocks will be scored to the same depth, and this depth ofscoring is fixed in the present apparatus by the engagement of thescoring pipes with the end walls of the slots 24.

The blocks are thus scored simultaneously on both sides; and the scoringoperation having been completed the treadle 9 is depressed to lower thestop block 5, thereby re- 'leasing the scored block of ice andpermitting it to be discharged through the rear of the apparatus as thenext block is pushed into the front thereof.

In actual practice the entire apparatus may be tilted so that it will beslightly inclined .from the front to the rear. B such an arrangement theice blocks may he fed directly from the containers to the a paratus, andas each block is scored an released it will pass on through theapparatus onto the loading platform or such other point as maybedesired.

lIt is well known that the blocks of artificial ice have slight taper,and consequently when the blocks are scored by sawing'it is impossiblefor all of the sinall blocks to have the same cubic content. In thepresent apparatus, however, the plates of the scoring frames will be sospaced that this taper ofthe large blocks will be allowed for, andconsequently when a block is scored all of the smaller blocks will haveexactly the same l number of cubic inches.

It is believed that the construction and operation of the apparatus willbe clearly understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that we have devised a scoring apparatus which is not onlysimple in construction and inexpensive in manufacture, but also willoperate in a rapid, eficient, `and economical manner.

In accordance with the patent statutes we have described what we nowbelieve to be the best embodiment of the invention, but we do not wishto be understood thereby as limiting ourselves or the scope of theinvenchanges and modifications may be made without departing from thespirit .of the invention; all such we aim to include in the scope of theappended claims,

What w`claim as new and desire lto secure by Letters Patent is:

apparatus for scoring ice, including two oppositely movable heatinmemrs, means for causing said mem ers to simultaneously move inwardlyinto engagement with the ice and for limitingthe extent ofinwardmovement. l

2. An apparatus for scoring ice, including` two oppositely arrangedscoring frames, said frames comprising horizontally and verticallyarranged plates, scoring .pipes arranged along the inner edge of saidplates, and means for simultaneously `moving said frames toward or fromeach other.

3. An apparatus for scoring ice, including two oppositely arrangedangles for supporting the ice to be scored, each of said angles providedwith a series of slots, oppositely arranged scoring frames, scoringelements carried by the fram-es, means for moving said frames toward orfrom each other, the frames cooperating with the slots to limit theinward movement of the frames.

` 4. An apparatus for scoring ice, including a supporting member for theice to 'be scored, a scoring frame comprising horizontally andvertically arranged plates provided with scoring elements, strengtheningplates carried by the frame andv of less width than the first-mentionedplates, means for moving said frame toward and from the supportingmember, whereby the depth of scoring is limited in extent to thedifference in width between said plates.

5. An apparatus for scoring ice, including a main frame, a scoringframe, scoring pipes carried by said scoring frame, means for movingsaid scoring frame back and forth, projections carried by each end ofthe scor-` ing frame, said projections having abutting relation withmembers of the main frame to prevent longitudinal movement of thescoring frame.

a pair of 6. An apparatus lfor scoring ice, including a supportingmember for the ice to be scored, a movable stop block for properly.

positioning the. ice, scoring frames, scoring pipes carrled by saldframes, a shaft associated with the apparatus, crank and linkconnections betweensaid shaft and said scoring frames to move the framestoward or from each other, and a lever for operatmg said shaft.

' HECTOR L. GEE.

ROSS H. DARBY.

